We Love Our Labrador Retrievers

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A beagle pup is a great thing to get for you and your family as they make great family dogs and can be a lot of fun to raise and watch grow up. But beagle puppies require a lot of patience and beagle puppy care is not as easy as it may seem. Take the time to do some research on how to raise your beagle pup the right way so that it stays healthy and grows into a great family dog. Always keep your vet involved with regular appointments and consultations if something should go wrong.

Rule number one, and probably the most important thing to remember that goes right along with patience, is to know what to expect from your beagle pup as it develops and grows. A three-month-old beagle is not going to be able to be taught the same things as a ten-month-old would. Beagles are just like kids in that you have to teach them based on where they are in their physical and mental development.

If you are caging your beagle pup to try and housebreak it and the process is not working then there is another way that may do the trick. Set aside a 48-hour period where you and someone else can take the dog out every hour on the hour and take it to the spot where you want it to do its business. Reinforce to the puppy that this outside spot is where to do these things and that the inside is not a good place. If this alternative does not work contact your vet.

Beating the puppy or chasing it around your house in anger rarely solves behavioral problems in beagle pups. If your puppy barks constantly, pointing at it and giving sharp one word commands such as “No” or “Stop” could be very effective. It is important that you dominate your pet through positive reinforcement and not through fear or physical violence.

Most, if not all, of the behavioral patterns required for beagle pups need to be taught to them while they are still pups. Walking on a leash, for example, may seem like an easy second nature thing to do but beagle pups are not born with the ability to walk on a leash, you need to teach them. It takes patience but you need to make sure that all negative behavioral traits are eliminated when they are still young enough to learn.

A beagle pup is like an empty book waiting to be filled with information. If you wait too long to address behavioral issues then those issues become patterns in adulthood and negative behavioral patterns are much more difficult to stop. So make sure you take the time to train your pup while it is still young so you and your family can enjoy it for years to come.

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As you probably know a great choice for a gun dog is a Labrador retriever especially if you want a good all rounder for shooting and hunting. I find these are probably the easiest to train especially for a beginner.

Like all breeds of gun dogs Lab’s have good and bad points, Here are some of the Pro’s and Con’s of training and owning a Labrador Retriever.

The Pro’s

•Of all the hunting dog breeds the Labrador is the strongest swimmer, which makes him excellent at duck hunting. The breed was originally bred and trained to jump off fishing boats to bring the fishing nets to shore. Most Labs have webbed feet that aid in swimming

•They are affectionate and patient dogs. They are known for being good natured, loyal, intelligent, and friendly. They are also great as a family pet as they are great with children.

•Talents include tracking, retrieving, hunting, police work, They also do excellent work as guide dogs for the blind and the disabled. Other activities they are used for are sledding, competitive obedience, and search and rescue.

The Con’s

•There is not much not to love about Labradors, maybe the only problem is their love of food. You need to moderate food intake, Labs are big eaters, and may Quickly Become Overweight if given the wrong diet.

•Another problem is they need regular exercise. They love long walks and also like to swim whatever the weather, so if you have a lake in your local park it will love a swim a few times a week. Plus plenty of exercise.

•The Labrador Retriever may become nervous and destructive if their human owner does not act as “pack leader” or if they do not receive enough exercise, it is best if you at least have a large yard to own one of these great hunting dogs.

There may seem a lot to worry about here but most Lab’s turn into wonderful gundogs and/or family pets. More things you may want to know about the Labrador are below:

Height and Weight

Adult males are usually between 22-24 inches tall and weigh around 60-75 pounds.

Adult females are usually between 21-23 inches tall and weigh around 55-70 pounds.

Life Expectancy

The average life of a Labrador retriever is about 12 years.

Grooming

Their smooth double coat is easy to groom with a brush with firm bristles. Pay attention to the undercoat, and bathe only when necessary. Even when they swim their skin stays dry due to the undercoat. They are also moderate shredders of hair.

History

As I mentioned earlier the Labrador Retriever was breed by fishermen in the 1700′s, originally from Newfoundland and known as St. John’s Dogs, They are now one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. and throughout the world.

Grouping

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Recognition

CKC, AKC, KCGB, ANKC, NZKC, CCR, ACR, UKC, CKC, NKC, APRI, FCI

Training:

The great thing about a Labrador Retriever is the ease with how you can train him as a gun dog. We find the best way to train is to train your Labrador is by doing it in short bursts maybe only 10 minutes twice a day. The only thing to beer in mind is not to many treats if you use treat training as your dog may put on to much weight.

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Susquehanna Service Dogs need puppy raisers
Susquehanna Service Dogs, a Keystone Children & Family Services program, needs volunteers to raise Labrador retriever puppies. These puppies are trained to become service or hearing dogs when

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